Kennedy Center Fires Dance Programming Team Amid Union Dispute

The Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts has recently undergone significant staff changes in its dance programming department, with director Jane Raleigh and two other employees being abruptly fired. These dismissals have been linked to Raleigh's public support for a unionization effort among Kennedy Center workers, with Raleigh and others alleging retaliation from leadership. Kennedy Center President Richard Grenell, appointed by President Trump, has directed a shift toward programming that appeals to broader audiences, including examples like reality TV dance shows. In response to the firings, the Center announced the appointment of Stephen Nakagawa, a former Washington Ballet dancer and choreographer without prior curatorial or administrative experience, as the new director of dance programming. The institution has faced considerable internal turmoil since Grenell's takeover, including multiple high-profile resignations and a drop in subscription sales. Staff and union advocates see the firings as an attack on artistic expression and labor rights, while the Kennedy Center promises an exciting new direction for its dance offerings.